There is accumulating evidence that the metabolism of several trace elements is altered in diabet... more There is accumulating evidence that the metabolism of several trace elements is altered in diabetes mellitus and that these nutrients might have specific roles in the pathogenesis and progress of this disease. The aim of present study was to compare the level of essential trace elements, chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) in biological samples (whole blood, urine, and scalp hair) of patients who have diabetes mellitus type 2 (n = 257), with those of nondiabetic control subjects (n = 166), age ranged (45–75) of both genders. The element concentrations were measured by means of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer after microwave-induced acid digestion. The validity and accuracy was checked by conventional wet-acid-digestion method and using certified reference materials. The overall recoveries of all elements were found in the range of (97.60–99.49%) of certified values. The results of this study showed that the mean values of Zn, Mn, and Cr were significantly reduced in blood and scalp-hair samples of diabetic patients as compared to control subjects of both genders (p p
The pathogenesis of some heart diseases has been associated with changes in the balance of certai... more The pathogenesis of some heart diseases has been associated with changes in the balance of certain trace elements. We examined the association of iron, copper and zinc between biological samples (scalp hair, whole blood and urine) and mortality from myocardial infarction (MI) patients of (first, second and third heart attack). The biological samples were from 130 MI patients (77 male and 53 female, age range 45-60 years) and 61 healthy age-matched controls (33 male and 28 female). The metals in the biological samples were measured by the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry, prior to microwave assisted acid digestion. The validity of the methodology was checked by the biological certified reference materials. During this study, 78% of the 32 patients aged >50 years, registered after the third MI attack died. In these subjects the concentration of Fe and Cu were increased by 0.83% and 3.12% in the scalp hair while in blood samples 9.7% and 22.5% were enhanced respectively, as compared to those who tolerated 3rd MI attack (p=0.072). The concentrations of Zn in whole blood and scalp hair samples were lower in MI patients as compared to normal subjects. Deficiency of zinc and high concentration of copper and iron may play a role in the development of heart disease.
... for an IT Professional in the UAE Sara Saeed Bilal Fatma Hassan C. Dianne Martin n my last co... more ... for an IT Professional in the UAE Sara Saeed Bilal Fatma Hassan C. Dianne Martin n my last column, I provided my personal reflections on educating women in Dubai. ... Sara Dianne Fatima Sara Saeed Bilal and Fatma Hassan are fourth-year students at Zayed University, UAE ...
In this paper, we propose a Progressive Differential Thresholding (PDT) framework for coordinated... more In this paper, we propose a Progressive Differential Thresholding (PDT) framework for coordinated network anomaly detection. Under the proposed framework, nodes present on a packet's path progressively encode their opinion (malicious or benign) inside a packet. Subsequent nodes on the path use the encoded opinion as side-information to adapt their anomaly detection thresholds and in turn improve their classification accuracies. Accuracy benefits of PDT are evaluated through experimental evaluations of multiple non-proprietary anomaly detectors on a publicly-available attack dataset. These evaluations indicate that, while being distributed and having negligible complexity and communication overheads, the proposed PDT framework provides considerable and consistent improvements in anomaly detection accuracy. We observe upto 54% improvements in ADS detection accuracy while upto 4 times reduction in the false alarm rates.
Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A-toxic/hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering, 2007
In this work the modified three-stage sequential extraction procedure developed within the Standa... more In this work the modified three-stage sequential extraction procedure developed within the Standards, Measurement and Testing Programme (formally the Community Bureau of Reference BCR) of the European Commission, was applied for the fractionation of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in the untreated domestic wastewater sludge (DWS) collected from the Hyderabad city of Pakistan. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of different time intervals for shaking, and sample mass of sewage sludge on optimal recovery of all metals under study. Analyses of the extracts were performed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The precision and accuracy of the proposed procedure was evaluated by using a certified reference material of soil amended with sewage sludge BCR 483. The maximum recoveries for Cd and Zn were observed for all three steps of BCR protocol at 26 hours (h) total shaking period, while Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb were achieved at 32 hours instead of previously reported 51 hours, with (p < 0.05). The maximum level of all heavy metals was achieved in samples mass 0.2–0.4 g, where as the extractant-sample mass ratio was kept according to the optimized BCR method. The results of the sequential extraction study of untreated DWS indicates that more easily mobilized forms (acid exchangeable) were found to be 31.0, 3.1, 2.5, 7.6, 2.6 and 8.4% of total contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, respectively. The oxidizable fraction is dominant for all the heavy metals, except Cd. The lixiviation tests (DIN 38414-S4) were used to evaluate the leaching of heavy metals from sewage sludge used for agricultural purposes.
The recycling of sewage sludge on agriculture land represents an alternative, advantageous, dispo... more The recycling of sewage sludge on agriculture land represents an alternative, advantageous, disposal of this waste material. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of using industrial sewage sludge, produced in Pakistan, as a fertiliser. Agricultural soil amended with 25% (w/w) sewage sludge with or without lime treatment was used for growing a variety of sorghum (PARC-SS-1). The mobility of the heavy metals (HMs) (Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn) and metalloid (As) in the untreated industrial waste water sewage sludge (UIWS) samples were assessed by applying a modified BCR (Community Bureau of Reference) sequential extraction procedure. The single extraction procedure comprised of the application of mild extractant (CaCl2) and water for the estimation of the proportion of easily soluble metal fractions. The precision and accuracy of BCR was evaluated by using a certified reference material of soil amended with sewage sludge BCR 483. The plant available metal contents, as extracted by the deionised water and 0.01 M CaCl2 solution and exchangeable fraction of BCR sequential, decreased with lime application in the range of 10–44% for As, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn, except in the cases of Cd and Cu, where their mobility was increased by 10% and 24%, respectively. Sludge amendment enhanced the dry weight yield of sorghum and the increase was more obvious after liming up to 25%. The uptake of HMs were lower in test samples (3.2–21.8%), except for Cu and Cd, which was higher (4%), while they were below the permissible limit of these metals. The present experiment demonstrates that liming was important in factors facilitating the growth of sorghum in sludge-amended soil.
There is accumulating evidence that the metabolism of several trace elements is altered in diabet... more There is accumulating evidence that the metabolism of several trace elements is altered in diabetes mellitus and that these nutrients might have specific roles in the pathogenesis and progress of this disease. The aim of present study was to compare the level of essential trace elements, chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) in biological samples (whole blood, urine, and scalp hair) of patients who have diabetes mellitus type 2 (n = 257), with those of nondiabetic control subjects (n = 166), age ranged (45–75) of both genders. The element concentrations were measured by means of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer after microwave-induced acid digestion. The validity and accuracy was checked by conventional wet-acid-digestion method and using certified reference materials. The overall recoveries of all elements were found in the range of (97.60–99.49%) of certified values. The results of this study showed that the mean values of Zn, Mn, and Cr were significantly reduced in blood and scalp-hair samples of diabetic patients as compared to control subjects of both genders (p p
The pathogenesis of some heart diseases has been associated with changes in the balance of certai... more The pathogenesis of some heart diseases has been associated with changes in the balance of certain trace elements. We examined the association of iron, copper and zinc between biological samples (scalp hair, whole blood and urine) and mortality from myocardial infarction (MI) patients of (first, second and third heart attack). The biological samples were from 130 MI patients (77 male and 53 female, age range 45-60 years) and 61 healthy age-matched controls (33 male and 28 female). The metals in the biological samples were measured by the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry, prior to microwave assisted acid digestion. The validity of the methodology was checked by the biological certified reference materials. During this study, 78% of the 32 patients aged &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;50 years, registered after the third MI attack died. In these subjects the concentration of Fe and Cu were increased by 0.83% and 3.12% in the scalp hair while in blood samples 9.7% and 22.5% were enhanced respectively, as compared to those who tolerated 3rd MI attack (p=0.072). The concentrations of Zn in whole blood and scalp hair samples were lower in MI patients as compared to normal subjects. Deficiency of zinc and high concentration of copper and iron may play a role in the development of heart disease.
... for an IT Professional in the UAE Sara Saeed Bilal Fatma Hassan C. Dianne Martin n my last co... more ... for an IT Professional in the UAE Sara Saeed Bilal Fatma Hassan C. Dianne Martin n my last column, I provided my personal reflections on educating women in Dubai. ... Sara Dianne Fatima Sara Saeed Bilal and Fatma Hassan are fourth-year students at Zayed University, UAE ...
In this paper, we propose a Progressive Differential Thresholding (PDT) framework for coordinated... more In this paper, we propose a Progressive Differential Thresholding (PDT) framework for coordinated network anomaly detection. Under the proposed framework, nodes present on a packet's path progressively encode their opinion (malicious or benign) inside a packet. Subsequent nodes on the path use the encoded opinion as side-information to adapt their anomaly detection thresholds and in turn improve their classification accuracies. Accuracy benefits of PDT are evaluated through experimental evaluations of multiple non-proprietary anomaly detectors on a publicly-available attack dataset. These evaluations indicate that, while being distributed and having negligible complexity and communication overheads, the proposed PDT framework provides considerable and consistent improvements in anomaly detection accuracy. We observe upto 54% improvements in ADS detection accuracy while upto 4 times reduction in the false alarm rates.
Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A-toxic/hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering, 2007
In this work the modified three-stage sequential extraction procedure developed within the Standa... more In this work the modified three-stage sequential extraction procedure developed within the Standards, Measurement and Testing Programme (formally the Community Bureau of Reference BCR) of the European Commission, was applied for the fractionation of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in the untreated domestic wastewater sludge (DWS) collected from the Hyderabad city of Pakistan. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of different time intervals for shaking, and sample mass of sewage sludge on optimal recovery of all metals under study. Analyses of the extracts were performed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The precision and accuracy of the proposed procedure was evaluated by using a certified reference material of soil amended with sewage sludge BCR 483. The maximum recoveries for Cd and Zn were observed for all three steps of BCR protocol at 26 hours (h) total shaking period, while Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb were achieved at 32 hours instead of previously reported 51 hours, with (p < 0.05). The maximum level of all heavy metals was achieved in samples mass 0.2–0.4 g, where as the extractant-sample mass ratio was kept according to the optimized BCR method. The results of the sequential extraction study of untreated DWS indicates that more easily mobilized forms (acid exchangeable) were found to be 31.0, 3.1, 2.5, 7.6, 2.6 and 8.4% of total contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, respectively. The oxidizable fraction is dominant for all the heavy metals, except Cd. The lixiviation tests (DIN 38414-S4) were used to evaluate the leaching of heavy metals from sewage sludge used for agricultural purposes.
The recycling of sewage sludge on agriculture land represents an alternative, advantageous, dispo... more The recycling of sewage sludge on agriculture land represents an alternative, advantageous, disposal of this waste material. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of using industrial sewage sludge, produced in Pakistan, as a fertiliser. Agricultural soil amended with 25% (w/w) sewage sludge with or without lime treatment was used for growing a variety of sorghum (PARC-SS-1). The mobility of the heavy metals (HMs) (Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn) and metalloid (As) in the untreated industrial waste water sewage sludge (UIWS) samples were assessed by applying a modified BCR (Community Bureau of Reference) sequential extraction procedure. The single extraction procedure comprised of the application of mild extractant (CaCl2) and water for the estimation of the proportion of easily soluble metal fractions. The precision and accuracy of BCR was evaluated by using a certified reference material of soil amended with sewage sludge BCR 483. The plant available metal contents, as extracted by the deionised water and 0.01 M CaCl2 solution and exchangeable fraction of BCR sequential, decreased with lime application in the range of 10–44% for As, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn, except in the cases of Cd and Cu, where their mobility was increased by 10% and 24%, respectively. Sludge amendment enhanced the dry weight yield of sorghum and the increase was more obvious after liming up to 25%. The uptake of HMs were lower in test samples (3.2–21.8%), except for Cu and Cd, which was higher (4%), while they were below the permissible limit of these metals. The present experiment demonstrates that liming was important in factors facilitating the growth of sorghum in sludge-amended soil.
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